Method of and apparatus for making glass



Jan.`13,11\925. 1,523,157

Y w. o. AMsLx-:R

`METHOD oF AND APPARATUS FgoR MAKING GLASS Filed April 25,V 1921 3 Shees--Shec l l IN VEN TOR.

Jan. 13, 1925. 1,523,157

w. o. AMsLER METHOD OF'AND APPARATUS EORMAKING `GLASS Filed April 25. 1921 s'sneets-sneet 2i M Z INI/ENTOR.

, ATTORNEY.

aan. 13, Y'1925. 1,523,151

W. O. AMSLER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING GLASS Filed April 25, 1921 s sheets-sheet :s

` .37 3a 43/ Z9 INVENTOR.

TTORNEY `Patented dan. 13., 1925.

and Apparatus for Making Glass,

.` Further objects varying greatly in size and made, to provide novel ing the y ,i isaiasi PATENT oFFicE.

WALTER o. AMSLER, or rrr'rsuncrr, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHO) OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING GLASS.

Application med April 25, 192,1.

State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainl new .and useful Improvements in Method of the following is a specific-ation.

This inveutionrelates to a method of and machine for the manufacture of glass, and while it relates particularly toa method and machine for formingglass into cylinders which may loe-opened out into sheets for making window glass, it is also applicable to the formation of hollow glass articles for other purposes.

It has heretofore Abeen the practice in forming glass cylinders, `such as those used for the manufacture of window glass, to draw the cylinders by lowering a suitable bait ring into a' pot of molten glass and then to raise it vertically while controlling the air pressurel within. the cylinder, which forms as the bait ring moves upward to prevent collapse of the cylinderl or variations in the thickness of the glass.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method and apparatus utilizing centrifugal action in the formation of glass cylinders or other hollow glass articles rather than the well known drawing and blowing operations, thereby doing away with the compressed air plant and the accompanying labor and'eX- pense required to maintain and operate said plant.

are to provide means whereby cylinders and other hollow articles configuration may be economically means for manipulating the apparatus before and after the formation of thecylinder, and to provide means for moving thearticle being formed longitudinallyto its axis while the glass is eentrifugally.

My invention contemplates primarily the utilization of centrifugal action for throwglass outwardly, in forming cylinders and other hollow objects, with or without the employment of a mold and in drawing the glass article beingformed away from the'plane in which the glass is thrown by the centrifugal action.

According to one form of this invention, a mold and a receptacle containing molten States, residing atV struction shown,

of which i being supplied thereto p Serial No. 464,188.

glass arerotated, preferably at substantially the same speed while one is moved longitudinally relatively to the other. 1n the conthe mold-is moved longitudinally while the position of the pot for the molten glass is stationary. The relative movement of thepot throws the glass centrifugally outward against the interior of the cylindrical mold, andby reason of the movement of the mold a film of glass is' spread over the interior of the mold and forms into a cylinder. The arrangement is referably such that one end Aof the cylindieir fastens to a draw ring which is detachable from the mold, so the cylinder may be removed from the mold, and the draw ring will provide-1.

means formanipulating it.

According to another form of my invention,-I may omit the mold and throw the molten glass outwardly against the drawring, and'then raise the draw-ring and the adhering glass in the operation of forming the hollow article.

The invention may stood by reference to drawings, in which: y

Fi'g.- l is a broken side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section'on line II-Il of Fig. 1 on a reduced scale;

Fig. 3 is a section on Fig. 1;

Fig.` 4 is a top view on a reduced scale of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a detailv view showing the top of a portion ofthe draw-ring and drive-ring at the top ofthe mold;

Fig. G is a side view apparatus shown in Fig. 5 outside of the drive-ring;

Fig. 7 'is adetail top plan view' of the mechanism for expanding the mold;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of a windlass used in connection with the apparatus; and i Fig. 9 is a view of aportion of the apbe more fully underthe accompanying of the part of the looking at the .paratus in which a modiiiedlform of,` mold is shown.

In the drawings, 5 represents the ground line HIf-III of eel los

line, and 6 a foundation below the ground 9 thereon.- The tops of the three columns -are connected and braced by means of-a V-'sh'aped plate 10 (see Fig. 4) having depending ch'annel irons 11 thereon to give-it rigidity. By reason of member 10 being V- shaped', one side of the supporting frame is open, as shown clearly in Fig. 4.

Secured to thel Webs 9 are'vertieal angle .ironsor supporting members12. Positioned `at the center of plate '8 is a journal '13. Con- Ynecting the tops of vertical members 12 js a suitable web 14 in the center of which is a journal l5 in alinement with journal 13. Passing through journals 13 and 15 is a shaft 16, the lower'end of which extends be'- low the plate 8 and has a large gear wheel 17 fixed thereto. On the upper projecting end of'shaft 16, and keyed or otherwise fixed thereto, is a' hub 18 from which extends a' web `19 having a vertical flange y20 on the periphery thereof. This -fiange forms a guide and centering device, as hereinafter described. j

Bolted or otherwise secu'red to the topl of hub 18` in such manner that `it is centrally positioned, is a basin or dish shaped pot .or

. receptacle 21 .for molten glass. The bottom ofthe receptacle may be strengthened by ribs 22. Uponrotation of gear wheel 17, flange 20 and receptacle 21 will be rotated through shaft 16.

' Journaled at the bottom in plate' 8 at 4234 and at the top Lof the supporting structure in bearing 24 on channel v11 1s a vertical shaft 25 which projects below plate 8 andhas its lower end provided with a pinion 26, which meshes and drives gear wheel 17. Fixed to shaft 25Ais a bevel 'gear'27. Shaft 25. is driven through the geary 27 'by a suitable variable speed electric or other motor 28,

reducing gear 29, shaft 30, and bevel gear- 30 meshing with gear 27.

At 31 is'. a vertically movable supporting lring comprising an annular plate on Vwhich are brackets -32 having transverse shafts 'therein on which are 'flanged rollers adapted to engage the -sides of the channel members 7 the flanges engaging' the .edges of the channel irons to .keep the supporting ring 1n vertical allnement. A bushing 34 in plate 31 slidably engages shaft 25 which passes.

. l diameter o the annular rack is substantially the same as that of gear wheel 17 and prefvhandle 52 or to members 53..

erably has the same number ofteeth. The

flange 38 engages the top ofplate 31 and the platev thus' forms a bearing for the drive ring. By reasonvof pinions 27 and 36 being the same s ize and gear 17 and rack 40 being the same size, the drive ring 37 and the receptacle 21 are driven at equal speeds upon rotation of shaft 25.

Flange 39 forms a seat for a removable draw-ring `41 having a shoulder 42 thereon which, in the lowermost position of plate 3l, as shown in Fig. '1, Ais even or levelwith the top of receptacle 21. Depending from the shouldered portion of the ring is a flange 43 which extends downwardly for only a'short of ring 41 is serrated or provided withsuitdistance..V As shown in Fig. 5, the interior able projections 44.. Projecting upwardly ing means, hereinafter described, are attached. To prevent relative lrotation befroin the ring 41-are ears 45 to which lifttween the drive ring 37 and the draw-ring v41, suitable means are provided,-such as-a projection 46 on each of ears 45 adapted to seat between two lugs 47 on the drive ring, as shown in Figs. 5 and Suspended from the drive ring 37 by.. means of Alinks or other suitable devices 48;

is a cylindrical sheet meta-l cylinder 49. The cylinder vis `divided longitudinally, preferably at two or more places," and the sections are secured together as shown in Figs.4 1 and 7 topermit the cylinder to-be expanded. The mechanism for holding the sections together comprises a longitudinally extendingr 'rotatable shaft 50 carried on lugs 51 on l one of the sections. Fixed to the shaft is a handle 52 and fixed on the shaft at other suitable points are arms 53, which, if desired, might also be handles. Pivjted on the other section in lugs' 54 are links 55 which have one .of their ends By rockinglever 52 from the full line position in Fig. 7 to the dotted line position.A

the sections lwill be forced apart to expand pivoted to the mold cylinder, When the mold is con- -tracted` the handle is inthe full line position, as shown in Fig. 7, and in th'is`position the parts are self-locking, and they do not project sufficiently to interfere'with the rotation of the cylinder. Theupper end of the cylinder telescopes over depending.

flange 43 on drawsring 41 (see Fig. 1.).

It Will be understood that the contour or configuration of the mold may be formed to make special shapes of hollow or cylindrical bodies; thus, for example, the walls of the mold may be.corrugated, thereby permitting corrugated glassto be made; the walls may also be ribbed, if ribbed vglass is to be made.

In vorder that the mold cylinder may be raised gradually and evenly as it rotates.

drums 60, supported in brackets 61 secured bers 7 is a sheave 67. cable 68 is secured to each of the drums andppasses over sheave.

67. The other end of each Vof the cables 68 connects with the brackets 32 on the upper ends of ring 31, throughturn-bucklcs 69. Thus` upon rotation of drums '60, the

cylindrical mold will be moved upwardly,

the rollers 33 forming 'a guide tokeep Ithe parts centered.

v Mounted beside the supporting frame and apparatus heretoforedescribed, is a pivotally mounted derrick. post 70 having a later- -ally extending arm 71 adapted to be swung over the top 'of therstructure supported by columns '-7 1n the outerA end of the arm is a sheave 72 and in the postis another sheave 73. Mountedon .the post near the ground -level is a windlass 74 with a crank or other suitable operating. mean's'75 and a vratchet 76. At 77 is a pawl for engagement with the ratchet wheeljfA cable 78 havi g al weight 79 atits end passes Aover the t rum 74, and one or two turnsis wrapped there-A around. The cable passes on'up `over sheave down-and connects with one member of a swivel 80'. Onythe other member of the swivel is a ring to'which connect rods-81 whose. outer ends` pass through openings or ears on thedr'aW-ring.-

"With this arrangement, the 'swivelpermits the draw-ring 41 to rotate as the'drive- 37 rotates'without twisting the cable ring As -the draw/#rin moves u Wardl weight 79 keeps the cable from becoming sla-ck. Then. whenthe drive ring has been raised to its uppermost limit and is again A lo'wered, the pawl and 4ratchet on the windlass prevent the draw-ring from lowering, and it is thus held m suspension. By releasing the pawl at any time. the draw-ring r may be lowered.

Mounted beneath web v19 is a gas burner or other suitable heater 85, the flame of which passes through openings in the web and keep the receptacle .21 hot.

In operation. the-parts are first in the position .,hown in Fig. 1,1with the exception that the draw-ring is.held in elevated position. Asuificient amount of molten glass'is placed in the receptacle, which has previousl f been heated. The draw-rin is then lowered to the-position shown in Flg. l, and

motor 28 is thrown into operation. The rotation'of receptacle 21 throws the molten' .glass outonto the shoulder of .the draw-ring.

The glass freezes to the projections on the draw-ring, which is also rotating. Motor 62 is then thrown into operatlon and the revolving mold casing or cylinder 49 is gradually raised. while the receptacle 21 does not cl'lange its position. The glass being thrown out of the receptacle centrifugally spreads over the cylinder as it moves up. The thick- 'ness of the glass may be regulated by varying the speed of either of the motors 2S and 62. lV'hen the cylinder has reached its uppermost limit, itis expanded and the glass,

having' chilled, will not freeze t o it-. The motor 62 is reversed and the drive-ring 37 -is lowered. but draw-ring 41 with the depending glass cylinder remains suspended. The -bottom ot the cylinder may then be sheared from the molten glass remaining in the receptacle 21. The derrick post is then rotated and the cylinder is swung our from over; the receptacle, the frame being open on one side. permitting this.

The cylinder of glass so formed may then be manipulated in any suitable manner. A new draw-ring can be substituted and the next cylinder formed. When the cylinder ot glass is removed from 4the draw-ring, the part of the glass next the ring is cut off and the ring vcleaned so that itmay beused again. f

In themodification shown in Fig. 9, the

parts are all similar to those described in 'connection with the other figures,

with the exception of the mold indicated at 49. This mold is shown as having a series of corrugationstherein in order to produce a corrugated cylinder. The corrugations could be arranged in a desired way and could run in 'any desired or preferred direction.A .By increasing the curvature of the corrugations 'as shownv in. Fig. 9 and decreasing the diameter of the receptacle 21'and theaccompanylngv parts, a -series f globe-like articles might be formed which, if desired, could 'their be detached fromeach other.

In the drawings, the height of the machine. is shown as being Very much reduced owing to broken away portions.. In actual practice. Vthe machine might be forty or more' feet in height. would beY about half of that height. The flange 20 serves to prevent the cylindrical mold from swinging ont of center as the cylinder mores upwardly.

The drawings'and description disclose one embodiment of my invention, butit is obvious that various changes may be made in thi` apparatus shown andwithin the scope of the appended claims. y

What I claim is:

1.*The method of foru'iing hollow'glass articles .which consists in rotating a mass of molten glass ina receptacle and thereby7 centrifugally cause the glass to flow outwardly oier the edge of the receptacle, freezing the first of the overflow to a bait ring rotating with the receptacle, and then moving. the bait ring' longitudinally of its and the cylindrical moldaxis of rotation while maintainingjthe :ring and receptacle in rotation. Y.

'2. The method of forming hollow -glass articles which consists 'in rotating a mass of4 molten glass to throw the glass outwardcen- ,trifugally and spreading it over the Vinterior of a mold While effecting a relativel longitudinal movement between the- -inold and' the molten glass. .f

3.`The method of. forming hollow glassl articles which consists in .rotating a mass of molten glass to throw the glass outward cen-` trifugally and spread .it over the interior` of the mold wl effecting a relative longitudinalmovement between the mass. of molten glass and theimold. f

4.- The method of forming glass' cylinders .which consists in rotating a mass of molten glass tol throw the' glass outward centrifu- :gally and spreading itover-the interior of a rotating mold to form the article while' the .moldis moving parallel `toflthe axis of ro-s tation.v I v 5. Apparatus forv the manufactureof glass. cylinders including a.. rotatablerece tacle, a mold surrounding.` the receptac e, means for rotatin the -receptacle, -means whereby one may tlie moved longitudinally f relatively to the othenwhile forming the cylinder.

6. VAp'parati'is for ythe manufacture of hollow glass articles including a rotatable re-` ceptacle, a rotatable mold, means whereby'.

one may be moved longitudinally relatively to the other. while forming the article, and

meansl for rotating the receptacle 'and the mold.

`7. The methodilof forming hollow glass. articles-of a 'desiredshape which consists in rotating' a mass' of Amolten glass to throw the 'glass outward centrifugally and spreading it over the interior 'of a Amold having the desired configuration while effectinga and means for rotating the receptacle and the mold. i

9. Apparatusffor the manufacture of glass cylinders including a rotatable receptacle, al

rotatable draw-ring, -means for movingthe draw-ring longitudinally relatively to the receptacle, means for rotating 4the receptacle and draw-ring, and a cylindrical mold movable longitudinally with the bait ring.

10. Apparatus' for the manufacture of hoilow'glass-articles includinga rotatable receptacle. a rotatable draw-ring of slightly i -Alargerdiamleter than the receptacle on which one en d of, the article adapted to foi-m,

means for effecting a relative .verticalniovcment between theA receptacle and the draw-- rinff while forni'innf an article and means for rotating the receptacle and means for rotating-thc draw-ringg said ring in. its low'ei'most position substantially encircling the topedgo of the receptacle..

11. Apparatus for the manufacture of hollow lglass. articles of a desired shape including a. rotatable receptacle, a rotatable" mold having itsinteriorof. tlie desired configura-A tion, means for rotating'themold and recepceptacle while they arerotating whereby a concurrent spreadinz'gy andjdrawing of' thc` articles is cfl'ected.

i 12. vApparatus for'tlie manufacture of glass articles includ-ing a rotatable, receptacle, a :rotatable mold cylinder,- means for 'i tacle, andnieansfor effecting a relatiiv'eloiigitudinal movement between the mold and i'crotating the receptacle and the mold, whcic- I by the mold may be moved longitudinally relatively vto the receptacle, and means' for effecting sucli longitudinal movement.

13. Apparatus. for tlie manufacture of glass cylinders including Aa rotatable receptacle', a rotatable draw-ring, means Aforrotating the draw-ring and receptacle, meansfor moving the draw ring longitudinally relatively-to the receptacle,A a mold, means foi moving the draw ring and'inold togetlicr, and means for-moving the draw ringl'iinlc-A pendently of the mold.

14. Apparatus for lthe -inanufacturcl of l' lglass cylinders including a rotatable receptacle from which molten glassy may be.

flowed centrifugally, means for receiving the glass thus flowed, and means for iiiovlng one relatively to the other during the operation of forming acylinder.

15. Apparatus forI the' manufacture of glass cylinders comprising a supporting frame, v a receptacle 'supported vin the frame, means for rotating the receptacle, a

-drivcring movable longitudinally in the frame, means forV moving. the drive-ring longitudinally, means for rotating the driveringv'at the same speed as the receptacle, and

a draw-ring and cylindrical mold carried by" the drive-ring. Y

1'6. Apparatus for the manufacture of vglass cylinders comprising a supporting frame, a receptaclesupported in the frame, means for rotating the receptacle, a drivering movable longitudinallyr in the frame,

means for moving tlie drive-ring longitudinally, means for rotatiiig'tlic drive-ring-at 'substantially the same speed as the receptacle, a draw-ring carried by the drive-ring,

and an expansible cylindrical mold carriedby the drive-ring.

17. Apparatus for the manufacture of glass cylinders `comprising a .supporting frame, a receptacle supported in the frame, means for rotating the receptacle, n dr'ive-4 ring movable longitudinally in the frame, means for eecting'the. longitudinal movement 0f the drive rlnff), means for rotating the drive-ring at su stantally the same speed as the receptacle, a mold cylinder carried by they drive-ring, a draW-ring'carred by the drverng and movable therewith,

and means for effecting a separate movement 10 ofthe draw-ring.

In testimony whereof I ax my signa-- ture in presence of two Witnesses. 

